Garment hanger



Dec. 28, 1965 B. J. wAcH 3,225,978

GARMENT HANGER Filed Oct. 9, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 I NVENTOR.

Bohumil J Wach BY 7 iii 2 azz' s Dec. 28, 1965 B. J. WACH 3,225,978

GARMENT HANGER Filed Oct. 9, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

United States Patent G 3,225,978 GARMENT HANGER Bohumil J. Wach, WesternSprings, Ill., assignor, by mesne assignments, to Neo Products Co.,Chicago, 111., a corporation of Illinois Filed Oct. 9, 1963, Ser. No.315,037 8 Claims. (Cl. 223-91) My invention relates to garment hangersof the type having a pair of divergent arms for supporting a garmentsuch as a coat, dress, etc., with a hook extending up from themid-portion thereof for engagement with a rod or the like capable ofsupporting a plurality of such hangers.

A particular object of my invention is to provide a hanger of thisgeneral character which is especially designed for commercial use; moreparticularly, a hanger which can be mass produced at an extremely lowcost and which is especially adaptable for supporting garments packed inquantity in shipping cartons or the like for mass transportation fromthe factory to a retail store or warehouse, without creasing incident tosuch transportation.

More especially, I have conceived of a hanger designed to be susceptibleof production by molding, preferably utilizing a synthetic plastic resinwhich will be rigid and strong and at the same time very light in weightand of low bulk, with relatively thin walls, occupying a minimum ofspace. Such material should, in thin webs, have a degree of resilience;also, in short, tenuous sections, it should be easily frangible.

A further object of my invention is to provide a hanger of the typereferred to which is especially adaptable for supporting ladies garmetsof silk, artificial silk or like material which is slithery incharacter, normally tending to slide off a standard-type hanger.

My invention as herein disclosed and claimed may be considered in somerespects an improvement over the invention described and claimed in mypending application Serial 262,760, filed March 4, 1963.

More particularly, I have conceived of a hanger of the characterreferred to having certain auxiliary members molded therewith andadapted to be readily detached therefrom by manual pressure, whereuponsuch members may be afiixed to the hanger for serving various purposes.In my aforesaid copending application are disclosed certain elements ofthis character, while in the instant application, I disclose certainother elements which may be detached and then attached to the hanger atvarious points for serving various functions, all as fully describedherebelow. Thus, as described more fully herein and in said copendingapplication, said auxiliary members may serve as intermediary means fora tandem hanger or as clamps, etc., for securing a garment againstdisplacement.

A further object of my invention is to provide a hanger which isspecially formed to serve as a support for a second hanger in tandemrelation.

Still another object is to provide a hanger of the type referred towhich will have integrally formed therewith a detachable connectorelement, with means provided on both the main hanger and the secondaryhanger to engage said connector-element after it has been detached,whereby the two hangers will be positively joined in tandem relation soas to withstand the agitation of transport without accidentaldetachment.

A further object is to provide such a hanger with detachable elementsformed therewith for engagement with the hanger proper and adapted toserve as means for securing a fragile garment on the hanger.

Various other objects and advantages will suggest themselves to thoseskilled in the art as the description proceeds.

Referring now to the drawings forming a part of this specification andillustrating certain preferred embodi ments of my invention,

FIG. 1 is an elevational view of hangers embodying my invention asemployed in the support and shipment of garments, showing a main hangerand secondary hanger in tandem relation;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view on an enlarged scale taken substantiallyalong the line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary elevational view further showing a portion ofthe main hanger of FIG. 1 as it comes from the mold;

FIG. 4 is a sectional View taken substantially along the line 44 of FIG.3;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 55 of FIG.3;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 66 of FIG.3;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a detachable connector elementconstituting a feature of my invention;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of said connector element viewed from theside opposite that seen in FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is an enlarged plan view of a secondary hanger for use eitheralone or in conjunction with a main hanger, as seen in FIGS. 1 and 2,and

FIGS. 10-14 are sectional views taken substantially along lines 1010,1111, 1212, 1313 and 14-14, respectively, of FIG. 9.

The hanger 10 seen in FIG. 1 is similar to that disclosed and claimed inmy copending application, Serial No. 262,760 in certain respects. Thus,the hanger is of generally standard shape, comprising a pair ofdivergent arms 12, 12 with a hook portion 15 extending upwardly from thejuncture point of the two arms, said hook 15 being of a configurationadapted to engage a rod or the like and to be readily disengageabletherefrom.

Generally speaking, the hanger 10 is so designed as to be readilymoldable of a synthetic plastic resin of suitable composition to providemaximum strength and rigidity along with a relatively thin cross-sectiondimension, as seen best in FIGS. 2 and 4. Plastic compositions havingthe desired physical attributes are well known to those skilled in theart, such as those of the polyurethanes, polyethylenes, etc.

In view of my objective of producing a garment hanger of minimum weightconsistent with low bulk and high strength, I not only form the walls,such as the sections indicated at 18, of minimum thickness, but alsoskeletonize the hanger as much as possible, as indicated by voids 2t)separated by the web 22, the latter adding to the strength of the hangerat the mid-section thereof.

A peripheral rib 25 extends laterally or transversely from the principalplane of the hanger, passing around the top and bottom edges of the arms12 and also around at least one edge of hook portion 15, while otherribs 25a and 25]) extend across the mid-section of the hanger joiningarms 12, all for strengthening purposes.

Integrally molded with the hanger on each side of arms 12 is one or moreclamping members 30, as fully described in my aforesaid pendingapplication, and, cooperating with said clamps 30, are slideable lockingblocks 40. As fully described in said pending application, the blocks 40are preferably molded integrally with the hanger, as seen in FIG. 7 ofsaid prior application, and, after said blocks have been manuallydetached from the hanger, they are affixed to the peripheral rib 25 sothat they may be slid into locking engagement with said clamps.

As seen best in FIG. 3, a thin membrane 35 is molded within the neckportion of the hanger below hook 1 5,

said membrane having a deformation for supporting in tandem relation asecond hanger. Said deformation in this instance is a T-shaped orkey-hole slot 37 formed therein, with a rib 25a therebelow; below saidrib is a more-or-less rectangular void 40 within which is molded aconnecting member 43, the latter being initially attached to the wallsof void 4%, as the hanger comes from the mold, by small frangible tabsor necks 45. Said tabs 45 are so small and frangible that member 43 mayreadily be pushed out of the void by slight manual pressure, whereuponsaid member may be secured in key-hole slot 37, as seen in FIG. 2.

Referring to FIGS. 7 and 8, it will be seen that member 43 may besubstantially rectangular and is generally symmetrical about its medianplane, represented by the dotted line AA, so as to be reversible. Saidmember comprises a plate 59 having terminal projections which may betransverse bars 52, 52 generally normal thereto. It will be noted thatthese bars extend farther from the plane of plate 56 on one sidethereof, on which side they are connected by a longitudinal rib 55 forstiffening purposes (FIG. 7). On the opposite side of the plate from rib55 a pair of longitudinal parallel wall members 57, 57 projectapproximately normally from plate 50, these wall members 57 being spaceda slight distance from end bars 52, 52 to provide slots 59 therebetween.Thus, the end bars function as hooks in the slots with which theyinterengage, as described below.

By reference to FIG. 2, it will be seen that connector member 43 may beinserted within key-hole slot 37 of hanger 10, said slot being soproportioned as readily to accommodate member 43. The latter should beinserted at a slight angle, with rib 55 uppermost and being received inthe intermediate or short leg of slot 37 in the course of suchinsertion. Being symmetrical about its median plane AA, member 43 may beinserted in slot 37 from either end thereof, or from either side ofhanger 10, so long as rib 55 is uppermost.

Member 43 will thus be seated in the position seen in FIG. 2 with endbar 52 bearing against membrane 35 above slot 37 on one side of themembrane, while plate 50 bears downwardly against said membrane belowslot 37 on the other side of membrane 35. The bottom edges oflongitudinal bars 57 also bear against web 25a therebelow. Thus, thereis provided a true cantilever suspension of connecting member 43 frommembrane 35.

Designed to cooperate with the main hanger in tandem relation thereto,with the help of connecting member 43, I provide a secondary hanger Na.(FIGS. 9*14.) This hanger may be molded of similar material and ofgenerally similar construction to the main hanger 10 in that it has thinwalls with marginal reinforcing ribs, as in hanger 1t). Hanger 19a willpreferably be provided at some suitable point, as in the upper portionof hook portion a, with a deformation, in this instance a keyhole slot37a which may be generally similar to slot 37 of the main hanger,designed to seat the opposite end of connecting member 43 in the samemanner that the latter is seated in the main hanger 10, as describedabove.

Secondary hanger 10a may, of course, be of any suitable size and shapefor supporting any desired type of garment. However, in the embodimentshown herein, secondary hanger 10a is especially designed to support asomewhat narrower garment than that for which the main hanger isdesigned. Thus, the secondary hanger may support a garment intended togo with that of the main hanger as part of a suit or other outfitintended to be sold as a unit. For example, the secondary hanger maysupport a pair of slacks or shorts or a skirt in conjunction with ajacket or blouse to be carried by the main hanger; if intended forundergarments, the main hanger may, for example, carry a pajama jacketwhile the pants part is carried by the secondary hanger.

In any event, the secondary hanger will have a main bar 60 of a desiredwidth, having marginal reinforcing ribs 25a corresponding to ribs 25 ofthe main hanger, said bar carrying at the extremities thereof transverseclamping means indicated generally by numeral 63.

Clamps 63 each comprise a relatively stationary plate portion 65normally depending from bar 60, likewise with marginal reinforcing ribs64, and a tongue portion 68, the latter also having integral stiffeningribs. Tongue 68 is preferably of generally L-shaped configuration, theshort leg 70 thereof being attached to a lateral extension of bar 6% andextending outwardly and downwardly from the point of attachment H, whichserves as a hinge or pivot, while the long leg 71 extends downwardlytherefrom, juncture 72 thereof serving also as a hinge, and inwardlytoward the plane of plate 65 and carrying at the extremity thereof andgenerally normal to said longer leg a tooth portion 75. Adapted tocooperate with tooth 75 is a lip 75a integral with and projectinglaterally from the marginal rib 64 directly below tooth 75. Thus, plateportion 65 may be said to frame tongue portion 68.

Inasmuch as the plastic material from which hanger 10a is molded willnormally have a relatively high degree of resilience, tongue 68 may beurged about its point of support H, which serves as a hinge, while theextremity of a garment G is inserted between tongue 68 and plate 63.When tongue 68 is released, the garment will be secured by the clamp andfirmly retained between tooth 75 and lip 75a, as seen in FIG. 11.

It will be seen that I have provided hangers adapted to cooperate witheach other in tandem relation and having many important advantages.Provision of cantileversupported interlocking support member 43 having apositive connection with the main hanger and with the secondary hanger,respectively, provides a tandem arrangement which is especially adaptedfor such rough handling as may be incidental to transportation in bulk.Thus, when many of the tandem hangers are loaded with garments andarranged in bulk within a carton, they will remain properly assembleddespite any jostling which may be encountered in transport.

Not only will the hangers remain properly assembled by reason of thecantilever interlocking means, but the garments disposed thereon willalso be retained because of the clamping means provided in accordancewith my invention.

Referring to FIG. 3, it will be noted that I also provide, in accordancewith my invention, a plurality of auxiliary garment retainers indicatedgenerally by numeral and preferably molded integrally with hanger 10within the voids 20 and attached thereto by means of small frangibletabs or necks 81. Said retaining elements 80 may be in the form of splitrings having a pair of outwardly and more or less radially disposedspaced fingers 83.

Retaining elements 80 are readily detached from tabs or necks 81 of thehanger by slight manual pressure, whereupon the members 80 may beemployed in the following manner. After a more-or-less filmy garmentsuch as a blouse or the like, formed of silk or artificial silk or thelike and having an upstanding collar or neck portion, has been arrangedon hanger 10, rings 80 may be snapped over marginal ribs 25 on the upperportion of the hanger so as to clamp the neck portion of the garment tothe hanger and thus prevent its disarrangement. It will be seen thatthis arrangement adds greatly to the versatility of hangers embodying myinvention.

While I have described my invention as preferably employing moldingmethods, other techniques, such as stamping, could be employed forfabrication of articles embodying my invention.

It may be superfluous to point out that the cantilever support of thesecondary hanger from the main hanger insures that the garments carriedby the two hangers will not be likely to be crushed together in bulkshipment.

It will also be apparent that the L-shaped configuration of clampmembers 68 provides two points of flexing at H and 72, respectively,hence high flexibility.

Various changes coming within the spirit of my invention may suggestthemselves to those skilled in the art; hence, I do not wish to belimited to the specific embodirnents shown and described or usesmentioned, but intend the same to be merely exemplary, the scope of myinvention being limited only by the appended claims.

I claim:

, 1. A garment hanger formed of thin-walled, lightweight, relativelystiif, resilient material, having (a) a pair of divergent arms, and

(b) means adjacent the juncture of said arms for detachable engagementwith a relatively fixed support,

(0) said hanger having a deformation adjacent said juncture forattachment and support of a second hanger in tandem relation thereto,

((1) an auxiliary member molded integrally with said hanger,

(e) a frangible neck securing said auxiliary member to said hanger,

(f) said auxiliary member being manually detachable and theninterengageable with the hanger in a different position to facilitatesupport of a garment.

2. A hanger as in claim 1,

(a) said auxiliary member having a pair of spaced fingers which, whensaid member is detached, may be sprung into sliding engagement with saidhanger.

3. A hanger as in claim 1,

(a) said auxiliary member provided with means, when detached, fordetachably interengaging with said deformation to serve as a support fora second hanger.

4. A combination as in claim 3, wherein (a) said auxiliary member isreversible, being provided with similar hook-like means adjacent eachend for interengagement, respectively, with said hanger and with asecond hanger, said deformation and said auxiliary member being,respectively, female and male in character.

5. A hanger as in claim 1,

(a) and interengaging slot and hook means on said hanger and auxiliarymember, respectively, whereby, after detachment, the latter may besecured to the former.

6. A combination as in claim 5, wherein (a) a void is provided in thehanger and said auxiliary member is initially disposed therein, with (b)frangible necks between said member and the walls of said void.

7. A hanger as defined in claim 1, wherein (a) the auxiliary member is agenerally ring-shaped clamp which, after detachment and subsequentinterengagement with the hanger is adapted to secure a garment to thehanger.

8. A combination as in claim 1, wherein (a) the deformation in thehanger is a slot formed therein and (b) the auxiliary member is aconnector having a platelike portion and a transverse terminalprojection,

(c) said slot and connector being so proportioned that the terminalprojection may be engaged in the slot to secure said member incantilever relation to the hanger.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 668,898 2/1901Yonteff 223 941,115 11/1909 Vanderford 22390 1,055,522 3/1913 Cumming21187 X 1,462,067 7/1923 McKenna 22388 1,717,078 6/1929 Wheary 211-87 X1,728,603 9/1929 Gates 211-87 1,768,005 6/1930 Schwartzman 22393 X2,312,985 3/1943 Bales 248223 2,498,400 2/1950 Du Lude 223-88 2,522,5959/1950 Bacica 22391 2,804,245 8/1957 Biondolillo et al. 22390 2,808,94210/1957 Harrison et a1. 22388 X 2,822,967 2/1958 Spitz 211113 X2,913,210 11/1959 Tichnor 248223 3,067,917 12/1962 Rellcr et a1 22393 XFOREIGN PATENTS 959,780 10/1949 France.

JORDAN FRANKLIN, Primary Examiner.

1. A GARMENT HANGER FORMED OF THIN-WALLED, LIGHTWEIGHT, RELATIVELYSTIFF, RESILIENT MATERIAL, HAVING (A) A PAIR OF DIVERGENT ARMS, AND (B)MEANS ADJACENT THE JUNCTURE OF SAID ARMS FOR DETACHABLE ENGAGEMENT WITHA RELATIVELY FIXED SUPPORT, (C) SAID HANGER HAVING A DEFORMATIONADJACENT SAID JUNCTURE FOR ATTACHMENT AND SUPPORT OF A SECOND HANGER INTANDEM RELATION THERETO, (D) AN AUXILIARY MEMBER MOLDED INTEGRALLY WITHSAID HANGER, (E) A FRANGIBLE NECK SECURING SAID AUXILIARY MEMBER TO SAIDHANGER, (F) SAID AUXILIARY MEMBER BEING MANUALLY DETACHABLE AND THENINTERENGAGEABLE WITH THE HANGER IN A DIFFERENT POSITION TO FACILITATESUPPORT OF A GARMENT.